Gastrointestinal Problems in Chinese Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

• Main Authors: Lai KYC, Leung PWL, Hung SF, Shea CKS, Mo F, Che KKI, Tse CY, Lau FLF, Ma SL, Wu JCY, So S, Dadds MR
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2020-07-01
• Series: Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment
• Subjects: autism spectrum disorder; gastrointestinal symptoms; subgroup; children; chinese
• Online Access: https://www.dovepress.com/gastrointestinal-problems-in-chinese-children-with-autism-spectrum-dis-peer-reviewed-article-NDT

Kelly YC Lai,1 Patrick WL Leung,2 Se Fong Hung,1 Caroline KS Shea,3 Flora Mo,3 Kiti KI Che,3 Chun-Yu Tse,2 Fanny LF Lau,1 Suk Ling Ma,1 Justin CY Wu,4 Suzanne So,2 Mark R Dadds5 1Department of Psychiatry, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong; 2Department of Psychology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong; 3Department of Psychiatry, Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital, Tai Po, Hong Kong; 4Department of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong; 5School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Sydney, AustraliaCorrespondence: Kelly YC LaiDepartment of Psychiatry, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong KongTel [phone]Fax [phone]Email [e-mail]: Gastrointestinal symptoms in individuals with autism spectrum disorder may constitute a subgroup with complex gut-brain interactions underlying the pathogenesis. This study examined the prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms in a sample of Chinese children with autism spectrum disorder, as well as the factors related to them.Participants and Methods: The participants included a clinic sample of 107 children with autism spectrum disorder and 249 gender- and age-matched typically developing community children.Results: Results found children with autism spectrum disorder to be twice as likely to suffer from gastrointestinal symptoms, reporting increased rates of constipation, abdominal migraine and aerophagia. Autism spectrum disorder diagnosis remained a significant predictor of gastrointestinal symptoms after taking into account the potential confounders that included comorbid psychopathologies, diets, and parental anxiety and depression.Conclusion: Our results suggest that autism spectrum disorder with gastrointestinal symptoms may constitute a subgroup within the autism spectrum disorder population that warrants further investigation.Keywords: autism spectrum disorder, gastrointestinal symptoms, subgroup, children, Chinese